Matthew 15:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

NIV: Yes it is, Lord,' she said. 'Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.'

NASB: And she said, 'Yes, Lord; but please help, for even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.'

CSB: "Yes, Lord," she said, "yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

NLT: She replied, 'That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.'

KJV: And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

NKJV: And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

The Canaanite woman who approached Jesus seeking healing for her daughter has already proven herself loud and persistent (Matthew 15:21–26). Here, she shows she is also wise and spiritually humble. That Christ would initially deny such a request is new in Matthew's gospel (Matthew 13:1–2; 14:13–14, 34–36) and reveals that Jesus' mission has been focused only on the people of Israel.

He has said something to the woman that sounds harsh, at least to modern English readers. According to Jesus, for Him to heal her daughter would be as inappropriate as taking food from a child to give to a pet dog (Matthew 15:26). Rather than being offended, the woman seems to clearly grasp the analogy. The children are God's chosen people Israel. The bread is Jesus' ability to heal and cast out demons. The dogs are the pagan Gentiles. That "food" has a primary purpose, and a primary recipient—there's an obligation to use it correctly.

And yet, she is not deterred. Her response doesn't, at all, challenge Jesus' position. Rather, she echoes a sentiment Christ used earlier. Then, He had condemned Israel's lack of belief by referring to this very same Gentile territory (Matthew 11:20–24). She quickly answers the Lord that even dogs can eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table. This analogy raises a question of the master's compassion—and does so without denying the truth of what Jesus is saying. Would any dog owner refuse to allow the dogs to eat crumbs from the floor?

Christ sees great faith in her response. She acknowledges that He is the Master and suggests that He can serve whomever He chooses with the crumbs of His time and power in this moment outside of Israel. That which the "children" have either ignored or rejected is all she is asking for. This reflection, it seems, was the purpose of Jesus' initial delay (Matthew 15:28).

Matthew 15:21–28 describes an encounter between Jesus and a Gentile woman. She knows Jesus is the Messiah and tells Him her daughter is severely oppressed by a demon. At first, Jesus chooses not to cast the demon out. He tells the woman His mission is only to Israel, using a metaphor about table scraps. The woman persists, and Jesus praises her for her for faith. Her daughter is healed instantly. This seems to be a teaching moment for the disciples, as Jesus will continue to another Gentile-heavy area and heal many, in the next passage.

Pharisees and scribes come from Jerusalem to challenge Jesus. They are offended that His disciples break the religious leaders' tradition about ritual handwashing before meals. Jesus turns that attack upside down, pointing out that His critics honor tradition above God's actual commands! He insists that nobody is defiled by what goes in the mouth—by the literal matter itself—but by the overflow of the spirit, such as the words that come out of the mouth. He and the disciples travel out of the country. Jesus casts a demon out of the daughter of a persistent Canaanite woman. They travel to the southeast side of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus feeds thousands of people from a few loaves and fishes. These last two events set up the eventual spread of the gospel beyond the people of Israel.

Matthew 15 begins with a confrontation between some Pharisees and Jesus. They ask why His disciples break the traditional practice of ritual handwashing. Pointedly, Jesus asks why they allow the obvious intent of God's commandments to be broken through their traditions. Jesus and the disciples travel out of Israel, encountering a Canaanite woman. He praises her faith and casts a demon from her daughter. They travel to the southeast side of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus heals more people and feeds thousands more from another few loaves and fishes. This sets up another confrontation with religious leaders, warnings about their teachings, and predictions of Jesus' death in the next chapter.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.